Eric Cantona Appointed Director of Soccer at The New York Cosmos

The King is back. Long live the King.

Yes, Eric Cantona, one of the greatest legends of the Premier League, has returned to the world of football after it was announced today that he’ll be the director of football, achh I mean soccer, at The New York Cosmos. It’s a safe bet that the Cosmos will become the 20th team in Major League Soccer in 2013.

“I am very honored to join the legendary club New York Cosmos,” said Cantona. “It’s a big project, a wonderful project. The Cosmos are very strong, beautifully made, with a great past. It’s kind of a mix between football and art. I will do everything that I can to help us first find our way to regain the #1 position in the United States, and then for us to become one of the best clubs in the world over the coming years.”

Cantona has been credited with making a substantial contribution during his time at Manchester United (1992-1997), which included four Premier League titles(1993, 1994, 1996, 1997).

Throughout Cantona’s 14 years as a professional, he played in France for Auxerre, Marseille, Bordeaux, Montpellier and Nimes. He later went to England to play one season for Leeds United – winning a Championship during the 1991-1992 season – before joining Manchester United, where he would spend the rest of his career until retiring in 1997.

“Three years ago, when I first had the idea of reviving The New York Cosmos, I couldn’t have dreamt that we’d be able to attract an icon the likes of Eric Cantona,” says Paul Kemsley, Chairman of The New York Cosmos. “It’s a personal thrill for me, as he was one of my heroes during the 1990’s and is a further endorsement to the tremendous global attraction and power that The New York Cosmos carries. Our name already resonates throughout the world and so will our football team.”